AP1000 passes commissioning milestones in China

• 6 years ago (2018-06-25)
• David Flin

Asia 859 Nuclear 643

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Milestones at two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors under construction in China were passed last week. First criticality was achieved at Sanmen 1, and fuel loading began in Haiyang 1. Both units are expected to start operating by the end of 2018, becoming the first operating AP1000 reactors.

China’s State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation announced that Sanmen 1 in Zhejiang province attained first criticality on 21 June. This will be followed by synchronisation to the grid, and then gradual power ascension testing until it achieves 100 per cent power.

José Gutiérrez, President and CEO of Westinghouse, said: “We completed the final major milestone before commercial operation for Westinghouse’s AP1000 nuclear power plant technology. We are one step closer to delivering the first AP1000 plant.”

Westinghouse also announced that loading of the 157 fuel assemblies into the core of Haiyang 1 began on 21 June. Westinghouse said that the unit recently successfully completed the necessary testing and regulatory reviews conducted by the NNSA. Haiyang 1 is expected to begin operating by the end of 2018, with Haiyang 2 expected to start up in 2019.